Los Angeles, USA
Stay safe in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is similar to other major metropolitan areas in that travel within certain parts of the city at night should be conducted with caution and only in groups. In downtown Los Angeles, even men should not walk around alone at night. Most areas are safe in the daytime, but traveling in groups is still a prudent precaution. Most homeless individuals are harmless; they will likely only ask you for money and if you refuse, they will simply go on to the next person. Certain areas of Downtown, such as Skid Row (which is where the Greyhound station is located), are dangerous regardless of the time of day and should be avoided altogether if possible. Street gangs (such as the Bloods and Crips) generally confine themselves to certain areas and should be of little concern to the typical traveler, who is unlikely to venture into the areas where the gangs are.
In the unlikely (although not as unlikely as in the rest of the country) event of a major earthquake, duck and cover and stay where you are during the shaking, then go outside once the shaking stops. Buildings and other structures are unlikely to collapse. Your largest threats come from breaking windows and falling objects such as ceiling tiles and bookshelves. Try to get under a table, desk, or doorjam to reduce your exposure to these threats. You are more likely to be injured if you try to run during the shaking.
Get out
Visit the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants tucked away in Sun Valley, a community in the eastern portion of the San Fernando Valley. The non-profit organization has the only nursery devoted exclusively to California native plants in Los Angeles County, with more than 400 native species and a seed store with more than 200 species available. For more information, call (818) 768-1802 or visit www.theodorepayne.org. The organization operates an annual wildflower hotline by phone and web that lists wildflower sites throughout California and hosts an annual Fall Festival with speakers, exhibits and a plant sale.
* San Fernando Valley
* San Gabriel Valley
* Santa Monica
* South Bay
* Universal City
* Catalina Island
* Venice. Home to Venice Beach and host to some of the most colorful characters in LA. Make sure to check out Gold’s Gym to see some heavy lifters, the basketball games for some great action, and the skaters.
Are you ready to go? Than book it!